Ninety-two children in Swale are expected to wake up homeless on Christmas Day.

They are among 7,300 youngsters across the South East living in temporary accommodation, a rise of a sixth in the last year.

The figures were compiled by national homelessness charity Shelter, which says dangerous housing conditions, the breakdown of families, sexual or physical abuse, and exposure to drugs and alcohol abuse are the key causes.

Director of services Alison Mohammed said: “There’s nothing more heartbreaking than hearing the voice of a parent who’s desperately trying to keep a roof over their children’s heads.

“The sad fact is, almost every day, we hear from families who find themselves living in a cramped room at a B&B or hostel, unable to give their children the environment they need to grow and thrive in.”

People who find themselves homeless are usually provided temporary accommodation by the council such as a bedsit, flat, house, a place in a hostel or bed and breakfast and those with children are given priority on waiting lists.

Swale council’s cabinet member for housing, Cllr John Wright, said: “Sadly we see many families who require temporary or emergency accommodation when they find themselves homeless and in urgent need.

“We are doing a tremendous amount of work to prevent people becoming homeless but unfortunately there are still cases where people come to us when they have nowhere else to go.

“We appreciate the immense difficulties people face when dealing with both homelessness and the threat of it, not just at Christmas but throughout the year.”

Swale is third in the county league table for homelessness behind only Ashford and Medway and the situation does not appear to be improving.

Last year there were 87 children living in temporary accommodation in the county, and 139 in 2013.

A Shelter helpline received more than 64,000 calls from the South East last year, the equivalent to 172 a day.

Officials say with housing costs soaring and welfare cuts continuing to take their toll, they are bracing themselves for a record number of calls over the Christmas period from families on the brink of homelessness.

For housing advice call 0808 8004444. To support Shelter’s Christmas appeal visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70060 to donate £3.